How do you diagnose a TIA?
Diagnosis and Tests Diagnostic testing consists of either a computed tomogram (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain and carotid arteries to determine the possible cause of the TIA.
How serious is a TIA?
A Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) is often called a mini-stroke, but it’s really a major warning. TIA is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain. Because most TIA symptoms last from only a few minutes up to 24 hours, they are often dismissed and not taken seriously.
Can doctors tell if you have had a TIA?
The most important information for confirming a TIA is your story about the symptoms and when they happened. Symptoms can be caused by other problems, so the specialist doctor or nurse will listen carefully to you and confirm if you’ve had a TIA. You may have a brain scan, but not everyone needs a scan.
What can trigger a TIA?
Causes of a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
- smoking.
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- obesity.
- high cholesterol levels.
- regularly drinking an excessive amount of alcohol.
- having a type of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation.
- having diabetes.
Can TIA be caused by stress?
Higher levels of stress, hostility and depressive symptoms are associated with significantly increased risk of incident stroke or TIA in middle-aged and older adults.
How do you feel after TIA?
However, some people were left with some residual (on-going) symptoms that lasted a few weeks, and some people continued to experience some symptoms for a while afterwards. Commonly these included arm and limb weakness or numbness, slurred speech, memory problems, confusion and visual difficulties.
What should you do immediately after a TIA?
You’ll probably be given low-dose aspirin straight after a suspected TIA. Aspirin works as an antiplatelet medicine. Platelets are blood cells that help blood to clot. Antiplatelet medicines work by reducing the ability of platelets to stick together and form blood clots.
What is the most common cause of TIA?
The underlying cause of a TIA often is a buildup of cholesterol-containing fatty deposits called plaques (atherosclerosis) in an artery or one of its branches that supplies oxygen and nutrients to the brain. Plaques can decrease the blood flow through an artery or lead to the development of a clot.